Combination card container and tray



July 31, 1928. 1,678,671

D. W. DUFFIELD COMBINATION CARD C(QNTAINER AND TRAY I Filed llay 29. 1926 I 1% amm' y I showing Patented July 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID W. IDIIFFIELD, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO YAWMAN & ERBE MANUFACTURING CO., OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COMBINATION CARD CONTAINER AND TRAY.

Application filed alay 29,

My invention relates to containers for cards, and contemplates the provision of a container which may be easily converted into a tray when the cards are being used.

It is the object of my invention to provide an improved combination card container and tray which may be conveniently packed and carried, which occupies a small space, and which may be conveniently used by stu dents, traveling men and others having 00- casion to record, index and file information.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a device of the above-mentioned kind in which the cover of the container in which the cards may be carried may be folded inwardly between the walls of the box so as to provide a suitable support for the filing cards when they are in use.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the card container, how it may be used as a tray, the

cover being shown in dotted lines in the position in which it lies when the container is being converted into a tray for the cards.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view of the device showing the position of the cover when used as a tray.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the device when being used merely as a container for the cards.

Tn the preferred embodiment of my invention the box or body of the container is made of cardboard covered with properlysized linen or other cloth, and is customary 1n the manufacture of book covers.

As shown in the drawings, the container comprises a bottom sheet 4 to which the sides 5 and 6 and the ends 7 and 8 are suitably secured, the sides and ends being joined to each other at the corners to form a rectangular box. The cover which is hinged at the upper edge of the side 6 is formed in three sections 9, 10 and 11 hingedly'joined to each other, the sections 9 and 10 forming the top proper and the section 11 forming a flap for the cover, as is usual in paperbox construction. Both sides of these sections are covered with continuous pieces of cloth, the cloth forming the hinges between the sections and at the juncture of the cover with the side 6. As shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, the flap 11 has its corners cut away at an angle to facilitate the insertion 1926. Seria1No. 112,440;

convert the container as there shown to a tray in which the cards may be conveniently used, the user may grasp the device in his left hand with his thumb against the side 5. Then by turning the box upwardly the cards 12 may be removed with the right hand and the bottoms of the cards placed beneath the section 10 which will be roughly in the position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. The cover maythen be pushed upwardly between the ends 7 and 8 and the container restored to normal position, with the result that the cards 12 will be held in a tray formed by the sections of the cover within the box, as is best shown in Figure 2. \Vhen the cards rest within the tra, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the upper edges of the cards project above the sides and ends so that the cards may be conveniently thumbed and handled.

It will be noted that the device does not have any projecting parts which are liable.

to catch upon obstructions and be thereby torn, nor does it have any parts which may be removed and misplaced or lost. The device is very convenient in use, light 1n weight and compact so that it may be readily carried about by the user.

While Ihave shown and described but a single embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that slight variations in the construction may be made without departing from the principle of my invention. I, therefore, do not wish to limit myself to the specific construction shown, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a rectangular box, and a cover comprising sections hingedly joined to one edge of said box, said cover being narrower than the length of the box so as to be adapted to be inserted between the ends of the box, whereby said sections serve as a cover in one position and as card supports in another position.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a bottom sheet, side and end sheets secured to the bottom sheet and to each other to form a rectangular box, and a cover for said box hinged to the upper edge of one of said sides, said cover being formed in three sections successively hinged to each other and adapted to be swung into the box to form a tray for holding index cards in position.

3. A rectangular box, a cover hinged to one edge of the box and adapted to be folded therein, the cover comprising not more than three hinged sections, the sections being 'so proportioned that the center section rests on the bottom of the box and other sections form obtuse angles therewith.

4. In combination a structure adapted to be used as a card container or a tray, cards adapted to be carried by said container or held in said tray, :and means including hinged sections for alternately serving as a cover for the boxor as bottom and end supports for the card tray. V

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 26day of May, 1926.

DAVID WV. DUFFILELD. 

